America and Progressive Reform

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America and Progressive Reform

• The Pressures of Progressive Reform 1900-1920

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Reform Pressures

• By the year 1900 The United States was a major
  world player.
• Industrialization, Urbanization and Immigration
  were all factors in increasing the wealth of the
  nation.
• These advances did however bring about negative
  changes.
• These negative effects brought on calls for
  reform.

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Effects of Business Practices

• The corporate world grew increasingly wealthy and
  powerful.
• Monopolies limited competition, thus creating
  unfair business practices
• Price gouging and waste full practices were
  accepted
• Social Darwinism

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Conditions for Industrial Workers

• Conditions were barely tolerable
• 60 hour work weeks on unsafe machines
• Getting hurt led to getting fired
• Very low wages especially for women and children
• No job security

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Life for the Urban Poor

• The gap between the rich and the poor began to
  grow more rapidly than in the past.
• Slums poor conditions along with crime and
  starvation was common.

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Lack of Strong, Effective Government Reforms

• Both Federal and State Governments did not commit
  effective reforms to deal with problems
• Corruption and laissez faire attitudes did
  nothing to help the situation

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Goals of the Progressive Movement

• Protect social welfare
• Promote moral improvement
• Create economic reform
• Foster efficiency

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Bibliography

• http//www.history.ohio-state.edu/projects/uscarto
  ons/GAPECartoons.htm - Slides 3,5 6
• http//www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabo
  r/
• Slide 4